In 2002, the singer Sparkle, whose real name is Stephanie Edwards, claimed her niece was the underage girl in an infamous sex video featuring R. Kelly. What is the relationship between the two singers? In 2001, the singer Sparkle (seen above in the 2019 Lifetime series Surviving R Kelly), whose real name is Stephanie Edwards, went public with allegations that R Kelly sexually assaulted her niece . Sparkle first introduced her then-12-year-old niece to Kelly in 1997 a decision that still haunts her to this day. Kelly has been charged with multiple sex crimes involving four women, three of whom were underage at the time of the alleged encounters. The Times. Surviving R.Kelly: The Final Chapter Sheds Light On Singers Alleged Feces Force-Feeding Ritual And Intimate Footage Of Aaliyah, Jailhouse Drop: Streaming Platforms Remove R. Kelly I Admit It Album, Singer Calls The Pied Piper Prison Production A Bootleg, More Punishment Pending: Pied Piper R. Kelly Found Guilty On Six Counts In Federal Child Pornography Trial, testimony did not sit well with Sparkle, who reacted to her neices claims online after someone asked her, Are you the aunt who had that child rub R. Kellys head? Sparkle explained that this is a result of a "family feud," which has led to her being a target of lies from her niece, who Sparkle feels lied about her on the stand out of loyalty to her mother. Vibe is a part of Penske Media Corporation. This encounter disheartened Sparkle and caused her to step back from her career in entertainment. Back in 2008, Kelly ended up being acquitted on charges of child pornography. We were still cool." Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. Career. The woman who previously testified against Kelly in 2008 and was the one who brought the sex tapes to the victims parents knowledge says that she had the greatest of intentions when she spoke up against Kelly, but her life was made hell by the victims mother. We later found out that the alleged little girl was the niece of R&B singer Sparkle best know for her smash hit slow cut Be Careful with R. Kelly himself. Recording artist Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards accused R. Kelly of having sex with her 14-year-old niece at his 2008 trial. Sparkle also heard the news of her niece's testimony and took to Instagram to discuss the allegations. Three sisters form a singing group in 1950s Harlem, but success threatens to ruin their relationship forever. Both have pleaded not guilty. "There have been a couple that have come to light that have settled out of court, so that they would not go to criminal court," Sparkle said, referring to Kelly's settlements with Tracy Sampson and Tiffany Hawkins. 2023 Vibe Media, LLC. She eventually became a key witness in Kelly's 2008 child pornography case, claiming that the young girl in the video in question was her 14-year-old niece. (Several other people have also identified the girl and Kelly on the tape during testimony. According to a federal indictment unsealed last week, Kelly gave the girl and her family gifts and money before and after the trial so she would lie to investigators, avoid questioning, and so she would not testify against him. There's no denying it,' she says on the stand. Naked Pic of Serena Williams Goes Viral! Her testimony sliced her family into factions, relegating her to years of . Trivia The decision, many believe, ultimately resulted in the jury acquitting the singer. She also spoke out in September 2021 after the singerwas convictedof nine counts of racketeering and sex-trafficking charges, and sentenced to 30 years behind bars. Sparkle added that her niece, sister and brother-in-law all reported that nothing was going on, however. Sparkles niece ended up in court before the side settle, and Sparkle who said she rode for her niece, fell out with Robert Kelly, however her family turned their back on her in the fallout out of everything. In this courtroom sketch, a woman who goes by pseudonym Jane, left, testifies in R. Kellys trial in federal court, Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, in Chicago. Featured On. I know them. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. She writes for Thirsty for News, covering world news and entertainment. Sparkles niece recently confronted something against her aunt and as a result, Sparkle claimed that her niece had lied about her. Blog. The decades-long crusade cost the 46-year-old her closest relationships and stifled her own music career. "I'm beyond pleased to finally hear the mountain I've tirelessly worked on moving over the. Stephanie Edwards, a singer known as Sparkle, testified at R. Kelly's 2008 trial. She got . Whitten Sabbatini for . Source: Chicago Tribune / Getty Earlier this week, the disgraced singer and his legal team appeared in a Chicago court, where Kelly faces several criminal charges. She's being exposed to the world. Sparkle talked about her niece working with the feds and said she couldn't be more thrilled about it. "I had a nasty taste in my mouth after seeing what I saw, and after many people, you know, didn't want me to speak out," Edwards told ET. ", Sparkle wasn't the only witness to get emotional on the stand Thursday. Sparkle went on to sign with Motown Records and released a second album, titled "Told You So," in 2000. She grew up in Chicago, Illinois and first met Kelly in 1989. A post shared by Sparkle (Stephanie Edwards) (@isparklei). Im letting those who know and support me that this is a family feud, she says at the beginning of her video, reading notes from her mobile device. "I know my family. Absolutely NOT! Kelly is on trial in Chicago for child pornography and charges that he rigged his 2008 trial to secure his freedom by intimidating the witnesses and using money to make the victim disappear. Kelly got emotional during the sit-down and alleged that he is "fighting for his . She attributed details of her nieces testimony to misguidance and the inability to think independently. At times sniffling and dabbing her eyes and her nose with a tissue, Sparkle appeared to be on the verge of tears but remained composed, although she also became defiant when Genson had his turn and accused the R&B singer of trying to take revenge against Kelly for terminating her record-label contract. Fourteen witnesses had identified the girl in the video during the 20018 trial, but she and members of her family did not testify. On the stand this afternoon, Stephanie Edwards (aka R&B singer Sparkle) says that she introduced the alleged victim, a budding rapper and singer, to Kelly when the three of them met up in the. He has pleaded not guilty. Contribute to Atlanta Black Star today and help us share our narratives. "Never. Picture Perfect Poster Girl: Taylour Paige Stars As "Boogie's" Leading Lady, UPDATE: Jesseca Dupart Denies That LisaRaye Found Out About Da Brat's Pregnancy Via Social Media, Your Weekly Helping Of Tidday Meats & Treats On The Gram, Cougar Chronicles! But let me chill. BridgetEE: A Music and Entertainment blogger/ Historian / Global Grind Freelance Writer Sparkle says she became suspicious of R. Kelly's involvement with her teenage niece in 2001. She also attested to having sexual encounters with the singer hundreds of times since the age of 14. One of the disgraced singers former artists has stepped forward to defend herself in the ongoing R. Kelly trial. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. She pointed out that during this time period, she ran into Kelly at a family bowling event, and he gave her his number and invited her to come down to the studio, to illustrate that there was no bad blood between them, however much Genson tried to imply it. Profession: Singer. If convicted, he'd have to register as a sex offender. Music Videos. "We were thick as thieves," Sparkle said of the family's closeness before the meeting. Sparkle's age is 47. 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. At the time, she and her family denied her appearance in the video and refused to testify. A new development in the case has resulted from the Sparkles nieces recent admission of the truth. In our exclusive interview, she shared that the decision cost her the relationship with her family. To what degree, singer, Sparkle's niece, is cooperating with authorities is still not official. Our societys awareness and understanding of sexual assault has increased while Kellys funds have dwindled. According to THE CUT Sparkle, whose real name is Stephanie Edwards, has been trying to convince the world that Kelly sexually abused her teenage niece. Several witnesses identified the singer and the girl to authorities afterward, but Kelly was still acquitted of 14 child pornography charges on June 13, 2008. All Rights Reserved. However, her sister Valerie didn't want to do anything about the tape, and the family became divided. Sparkle Net Worth: Sparkle is an American R&B singer who has a net worth of $600 thousand. Custom Content Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand . Sparkle has since thanked "Surviving R. Kelly" producer Dream Hampton for once again bringing attention to the alleged crimes. "She's my niece. About. While the witness is addressed in court as Jane, her story included identifying details, including that she is Sparkles niece. We were a gospel group just years prior so me thinking about them for them was partly programmed in meagain, Because Robert was given the opportunity to have his own imprint, record label, I introduced my sister, my brother-in-law and my niece to Robert at CRC studios in 1997 in hopes of landing my niece a career in this industry, not a concert as she testified, Sparkle said. - YouTube 0:00 / 25:48 Intro EXPOSED: PROOF Sparkle PIMPED Her Niece To R Kelly!| Andrea Kelly. In the recent federal indictment, he was accused of paying off the girl and her family so they would lie for him and not cooperate with investigators. Before Fame. Sparkle prayed for her niece to one day tell the truth and shame the devil and for them to be a family again. Sparkle's niece who was 14 years old was alleged to be the young girl in the video tape that went viral on the streets before going viral was such a thing. She eventually became a key witness in Kelly's 2008 child pornography case, claiming that the young girl in the video in question was her 14-year-old niece. "But until our investigation is . It's so very sad.". Sparkle is claiming that the victims mother was also upset at her, and the victims testimony was aimed at getting back at her for going against Kelly. This ongoing R. Kelly trial has caused one of the disgraced singer's former artists to come forward to defend herself. 3 min read Singer Sparkle has refuted testimony made by a witness recognized as "Jane" in R.. Singer Sparkle has refuted testimony made by a witness recognized as Jane in R. Kellys criminal trial, where he faces charges for child pornography. One of those relatives, singer Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards, testified Thursday that she had introduced the alleged victim to Kelly, and that the girl called him her "Godfather." In her video, Sparkle read a statement from her phone and said, "Not all that you heard yesterday from my niece is true. In 2002, Kelly re-entered Sparkle's life when a video that appeared to depict sex between Kelly and a 14-year-old came to the attention of police. "Surviving R.Kelly," a Lifetime docu-series that's airing in six parts on three nights about musician R. Kelly, has reinvigorated the public's interest in the long list of accusations made against the controversial singer. Singer Sparkle was the only member from the girls family to testify against Kelly in 2008, identifying her niece in the tape. But after R. and I parted ways, it was me not watching over her. The singer expressed hurt and called the testimony a result of their "family feud." In addition, Sparkle revealed that her niece attempting to implicate her in the case is an "absolute will of her mom" and an "unfortunate . In the 1960s, three sisters form a girl group and soon become local sensations with major label interest, but fame becomes a challenge as the close-knit family begins to fall apart. Flavor Of Love Reality Star Deelishis' Niece Reportedly Killed in Mass Shooting; Baddies West Season 3 Fights: Stunna Girl vs. Everybody; 50 Cent Inks Non-Exclusive Broadcast Deal With Fox; Cardi B & Offset Meal Launches at McDonald's on Valentine's Day; Leilani Capalot - T Shirt Music Video & BTS | Video Zone His response thus far has been that the tapes are fabricated and that he's been blackmailed. Sparkle testified against Kelly in 2008 but, as we all know, he was found not guilty. Sparkle, who is reportedly the aunt of the 14-year-old who testified that she was introduced to R. Kelly by her aunt, who encouraged her to ask the singer to be his god-daughter and entice him by rubbing his head and sitting on his lap, is disputing the claim. PredIQtion Markets. EXPOSED: PROOF Sparkle PIMPED Her Niece To R Kelly!| Andrea Kelly & Lisa VA Have S E X Tape! Kelly faces 14 counts of child pornography -- seven for directing, seven for producing. According to The New York Times, the extent of this girls cooperation with authorities isnt clear, her lawyer, Christopher L. Brown spoke of her willingness to work with authorities days after Kelly was accused, in a federal indictment, of paying the girl and her father to lie to investigators to protect him. He is accused of perpetrating these acts against 12 women, at least eight of which were underage at the time he was sexually involved with them. Sparkle added that she and Kelly were never romantically involved as painted by the victim. For full coverage of the case, read the R. Kelly Reports and check out this [article id="1586932"]complete timeline[/article] of the events leading up to the trial. That's it.". FAQ + Create an Account / Login. @lifetimetv SRK For Girls/Women linktr.ee/isparklei Posts Reels Videos Tagged But things have changed since 2008. Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards, a recording artist as well, was born on May 13, 1975. Sparkle was Kelly's protge in the 90's. The singer agreed to testify in the 2008 trial and identified Kelly as the man in the video and her niece as the girl. Sparkle was horrified when she discovered that it was her niece at the center of Kelly's 2002 child pornography indictment. 6 2019, Updated 5:51 a.m. Nope, Sparkle didn't take a payout meanwhile R sending them on trips and paying for their houses. Sparkle has openly confronted the fact that her niece has lied about her in court. Please say its not you., Sparkle replied, Absolutely NOT! The singer's niece, who's allegedly the 14-year-old girl on the infamous 2008 sex tape, recently claimed Sparkle encouraged her to ask Kelly to be her godfather by enticing him. I wish they were backing [me] when I was coming up and had a story to tell, but nobody believed. If you are in your 40's you have seen the video (whether you want to admit it or not). Sparkle explains that she testified against Kelly in court, although he allegedly tried to bribe her. "She shared how she didn't see me as a survivor but she wanted to celebrate me for being the first one to stand up and bring to light what was going [on].". "Hampton spoke to me and spoke to my management," Edwards continued. In an Instagram video, Sparkle called the confusion a family feud and stated that she wanted to put a few things in context., Absolutely NOT!! In court, Sparkles now-37-year-old victim niece told the court R Kelly starting having sex with her when she was only 14, claiming they had sex hundreds of times before she turned 18. Please say its not you., Takeoff Shot in Head and Torso, According to Coroner Report, Aaron Carter Pulled Over On Suspicion Of DUI While Driving RV. Whats The Deal With This R. Kelly Album That Dropped? Bop Shop: Songs From J-Hope And J. 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